December 4, 200718 yr So those with Fasthosts accounts will know of the security breach and their request to change passwords. But get this.... I need to login to change some domain details and change the password as they requested in an email. So I went to login as usual. BUT.... I cannot login as it rejects me (maybe I forgot my pass or they changed it already), so I went to use the forget password feature. BUT..... The forgot password feature is switch off and says to contact support. So I went to fill in their support form. BUT... You must login to use the support form! So I went to email them instead. BUT.... You have to know your PIN and account number for them to receive the email which I dont because I cant login! So I went to call them. BUT.... They put at number 54 in the queue!!! So I emailed Sales. Anyone else having a hard time getting hold of Fasthosts? Its like they've put a wall up between them and their clients since the security breach.
December 4, 200718 yr Fortunately I don't have to contact them but I feel for you. Are you going to join the people jumping ship?
December 5, 200718 yr Author Looks like I am yes.... it wasn't so bad as at least things were working. But today one of my clients sites has gone down with an asp database error. I wonder if they have changed the database password too. But I cant fix it, as I cant access the account or get through to fasthosts. Its unbelievable! So to all those who say never use Fasthosts... this is a perfect example. Luckily I only have one site and some domains with them, so only this one site has gone down for me. What if I had all my sites with them and they all went down and I couldn't get support? My business would collapse. I hope no one is in this situation. I think something like this shows if you have an important website, or are a web developer or something, you really should spend a but more and have a proper hosting company and not use any of the large, cheap companies like this one.
December 5, 200718 yr Over the last 15 or so years I've been involved with the internet, I've used practically every hosting company out there. However, with all the horrors I've had in the past, I can safely say that by using Webfusion/Pipex and RackSpace for the past 4 years, I've had almost no problems at all. (The downside is, I host about 100 client sites, which means I'm outlaying about £400 per-month alone for hosting. But... bear in mind that this is a CHARGEABLE item, it breaks down to a very reasonable sum to each client...) AVOID cheap hosting like the plague. In the long run, it's just not worth it if you have clients relying on your services. It can make or break you, trust me!
December 5, 200718 yr Author I can safely say that by using Webfusion/Pipex and RackSpace I thought Rackspace were too expensive? What hosting plan do you have? I used Rackspace in a previous company and they were charging something like £600 per month and I enquired some time ago and I think this was the only sort of option they provided, i.e. dedicated servers with management. Do they provide something more affordable for smaller bsuinesses now? Because Rackspace were very good at support. Pick up the phone and get through to someone straight away. I am with clook at the moment who are also great at support but no phone, just a ticket system. But they answer straight away.
December 5, 200718 yr AS with most companies... if you call them and show a modicum of intelligence (i.e. you can't be blinded by them using jargon-laden sales spiel) there's a fair amount of negotiation which can take place... Bear in mind the Rackspace hosting is over 2/3 of our £400 monthly hosting spend, and yet caters for almost all of our critical stuff, it's little wonder that we go grey and bald a LOT slower than other people we know who are spending 1/10 on hosting. The pros are simple: no messing, no fuss, no 'learning curve'. Just get in touch and it's sorted. The price is well justified, because as the years go by, one headache I can do without is listening to the bull$hoot given by an offshore callcentre when something goes wrong. Downtime, headaches, etc. are just not worth it if you want to do it right.
December 6, 200718 yr Hi there, I'm in almost exactly the same position as you. So I emailed them (as I waited 45 mins to go from position 53 to position 40 then hung up). I got an automated reply stating they wouldn't read my email as it didn't contain usernumber and PIN number. Eventually I found that on an old email. So I emailed them with that, and got an automated reply giving it a ref# and saying they would assign it to someone to look at.... 2 days later I've heard nothing. Oh except constant reminders to change all my email passwords or everyone is going to be locked out!! HOW? HOW? I can't get in to change them! Anyway, just called the helpdesk now, at 10.25pm UK time, and I'm offered queue position 55.... As soon as humanly possible I'm transferring all my hosting, including my reseller account, away from this bunch of total incompetents.... Good luck with yours! So those with Fasthosts accounts will know of the security breach and their request to change passwords. But get this.... I need to login to change some domain details and change the password as they requested in an email. So I went to login as usual. BUT.... I cannot login as it rejects me (maybe I forgot my pass or they changed it already), so I went to use the forget password feature. BUT..... The forgot password feature is switch off and says to contact support. So I went to fill in their support form. BUT... You must login to use the support form! So I went to email them instead. BUT.... You have to know your PIN and account number for them to receive the email which I dont because I cant login! So I went to call them. BUT.... They put at number 54 in the queue!!! So I emailed Sales. Anyone else having a hard time getting hold of Fasthosts? Its like they've put a wall up between them and their clients since the security breach.
December 9, 200718 yr I feel for anyone still with Fasthosts! Especially business which are reliant on websites being available for customers. We personally have had a record week with clients transfering in from Fasthosts daily, each with a personal tale of Woe with regard to Fasthosts cusomter support (I use the phrase lightly)! If possible I recomend that any1 yet to hange passwords does so before the 14th as I believe that email passwords will be reset too on this date making it even harder to get a response from them! Good luck every1 www.nublue.co.uk
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